ESCONDIDO: Accused fatal hit-and-run driver headed to trial

ESCONDIDO - An Escondido man accused in a
hit-and-run crash in North County
that killed one of his
passengers must stand trial on charges of gross vehicular
manslaughter, DUI with injury and hit-and-run causing death, a
judge ruled Wednesday.

Joshua Goldbaum, 27, faces more than 20 years in state prison if
convicted in the death last October of 21-year-old
Brianna Burlington
.

Goldbaum and another passenger in the defendant's 2000 Hyundai
Sonata, Nicholas McGill, received minor injuries.

Vista Judge Richard Mills ruled after a two-day preliminary
hearing that enough evidence was presented for Goldbaum to stand
trial. A Superior Court arraignment was set for Feb. 1.

According to a search warrant affidavit from the CHP, Goldbaum
persuaded a woman who had stopped to help to take him to the
hospital. On the way there, the warrant states, the defendant
convinced the woman to take him home.

Goldbaum left his wallet in the woman's car, and when she
learned he was the driver in a fatal hit-and-run crash, she called
police, according to the affidavit.